UN Decision Looms: Western Sahara's Future at Crossroads with Autonomy Resolution

The UN Security Council is set to vote on a resolution advocating genuine autonomy for Western Sahara under Moroccan control, potentially resolving a decades-long conflict. With Morocco poised against the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, the situation remains tense as various nations weigh in, suggesting a shift in international positions.

The United Nations Security Council is poised for a significant decision, as it votes on a resolution regarding Western Sahara's autonomy under Moroccan governance. Endorsement of this resolution could put an end to the prolonged territorial conflict. Morocco, claiming the land as its own, faces opposition from the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, advocating independence.

The U.S.-drafted resolution, if passed, would acknowledge Morocco's autonomy proposal as a negotiation basis, despite Algeria's efforts to remove supportive language. The Security Council requires at least nine votes and no vetoes from its permanent members, including Russia and China, to adopt the resolution.

Backing for Morocco's stance is growing, with the U.S., France, the UK, and Spain showing support for autonomy. The draft also seeks to extend the U.N. peacekeeping mandate, MINURSO, while prompting a strategic review to assess its future. With geopolitical stakes high, the vote's outcome may reshape regional diplomacy.

(With inputs from agencies.)